Here at the Jimmy Beans Warehouse, we love a good competition. From participating in local races to watching some competitive television like game shows and dating shows - we can't help but get sucked in! We love how dramatic it can be, combined with all of the twists and turns the narrative takes (and, of course, we always root for the underdog)! This is why we're so excited about the return of our favorite baking show - competition and sweet treats? Count. Us. In!

We HAD to celebrate with a project to pay homage to the contestants showing their baking prowess, and what better way to do that than to focus on a little bit of brioche? Hehe!

Exclusive to Jimmy Beans comes the Jammy Dodger Cowl, which is available in two scrumptious colorways based on tasty treats like raspberries and poached pears! Designed by Miriam Felton and using Earl Grey Fiber Co. Darjeeling Sock, we can almost taste just how yummy this project is going to be!

Each kit comes packaged up in a white bakery box and provides a heaping serving of the yarn you need in each colorway. Of course, we can't forget the array of the cutlery (stitch markers) you'll need to dig right in!

This roomy cowl is as cozy as bread right outta the oven, featuring stripes surrounding an eye-catching design just like scored artisan bread!

This week's talented contenders are here to see who can make the cutest summer shawl design, and we gotta say there's some pretty stiff competition with these wraps! From vibrant celebrations of color to sophisticated, elegant designs, we're chomping at the knit to get these projects on our needles and hooks!

Cast (on) your vote for your favorite shawl below!

Contestant No. 1

This year calls for some good vibes, which is why Marinja Knits dreamt up the Positive Vibrations Shawl! This dazzling piece was written for three different sizes to make the most of your yarn, showcasing the groovy stripes she's so well known for! The shawl begins at one tip and grows sideways to the wide edge, using short rows to its advantage. This shawl uses Madelinetosh Tosh Sport yarn and is great for any established knitter and beyond!

Contestant No. 2

Going above and beyond is the elegant Synchronicity Wrap designed by Cheryl Faust! Mosaic knitting is something we've always swooned over but have been a little hesitant to try, but this shawl may just be the one we jump into because it's THAT gorgeous. The solid shades of Urth Yarns Harvest Worsted combine harmoniously with the self-striping nature of Urth Yarns Uneek Worsted, seamlessly blending the worlds of stripes and mosaic work.
Please note: This pattern links to Ravelry.

Contestant No. 3

Now, you wouldn't think we'd hold a competition for shawls without this crocheted beauty, would you? From TL Yarcrafts comes the Monti Wrap! Romantic and elegant, this shawl uses Shibui Knits Silk Cloud and Lunar to make an airy, lacy masterpiece with bold, color-blocked stripes! This piece is worked from the short edge. And the best part? This shawl adds a touch of sophistication to your outfit by looking more complicated than it actually is!

Contestant No. 4

Tabetha Hederick went above and beyond by designing not one, but TWO beautiful wraps! The Gentle Tidings Shawl uses 3 shades of SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock to make our next summertime staple! Utilizing garter stitch and slipped stitches together brings a sense of balance to this classic triangular-shaped shawl. Knitting this up brings harmony to your needles and a calming air to your you-time.

Contestant No. 5

Swooping in to claim our fifth spot in this competition is Tabetha Hederick again (is that even allowed?)! Playing up how much we love a good gradient, the Symphony Shawl also adds in some simple colorwork and lacework - like a nice, hearty stew with a bunch of ingredients to make you feel full and warm! Using SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock Party of Five kits, choose between making your shawl a full rainbow of 10 colors, or an understated 5 color combo!

This has proven to be a lot harder than we anticipated, and while we're suckers for a good challenge and eye-catching color palette, we just can't help ourselves! All of these designs are winners!!

All that Glitters Is...

Sprinkles are like tiny slivers of happiness! Seeing them on our desserts brings us so much joy, especially when they're available in fun shapes like stars or hearts! We can admit that some of the Beans have quite the sweet tooth (it's hard to deny that sometimes) and sprinkles bring the right amount of color and fun to your dessert - while they aren't always necessary, they're always welcome!

Acting as the sprinkles to our yarn, little flecks of shimmering stellina bring a smile to our faces and some glamor to our next project! That's exactly why making with Madelinetosh TML + Glitter is always a treat! Each piece of stellina is firmly attached to the yarn so it won't fall out. Plus, each skein contains a generous 420 yards, - enough to make a lacy shawl out of just one skein! The stellina catches the light like a prism and glimmers beautifully! These shiny sprinkles are small and surprisingly understated, working well with the merino wool instead of stealing the show!

See a color you like and it's not in stock? You can place an order for it and we will special order the exact number of skeins you need for your project and let you know how long it'll take to arrive!

One of our favorite things about cooking is that you could give multiple people the same recipe and they will always put their own spin on it, whether it's adding ingredients to taste (like an enormous amount of garlic), using butter instead of oil, or something as simple as how the ingredients are chopped.

That's why we're always excited to see a new pattern book arrive! We can't wait to see what kinds of yarn people use and how they modify patterns to fit their personal style! In Rowan's new pattern book, Ravish, each pattern has a carefree feeling to it and uses clean, sharp colors and shapes that work well whether it's day or night! Featuring an array of lightweight tops and ultra-cozy sweaters, you'll be fashionable and comfortable all season long! We're ready to take this season by storm for the height of the hot days and chilly late nights!

Adrienne's Accessories!

A chef's tools are so very important! From paring knives to boning knives and cleavers, the right tools are needed to get those perfect slices of meat or cheese. We can't help but draw a similarity to our own arsenal of needles and crochet hooks and how essential they are to our craft. Sure, to someone who doesn't take part in the fiber arts, having a full set of crochet hooks may be a bit strange or even overkill, but you can't use a size A hook for super bulky yarn! The size and utility of our hooks matter, and don't get us started on the need for them to be comfortable in our hands!

Katrinkles came out with these sweet little hook gauges, the perfect tools to help us in our quest for optimal crocheting time! Finally! With how much we've crocheted over the years, it'd be a miracle if our sizing numbers didn't get rubbed off over time! Each hole and slot in the Katrinkles Crochet Hook Gauges are laser cut with precision, making the process of identifying your hook's size just that much easier! The Katrinkles Mini Tool - Crochet Hook Gauge comes with a ball chain loop to make travel easy! Just hook it onto your project bag, and you'll never lose it!

Do you know when your little furbaby is young and super excited to see the world? When they're so stoked to explore that they run around in circles and then take off in a random direction just to get the jitters out? That's how we've felt recently with our Wool Watcher pup, Watson. He's been tearin' up the Jimmy Beans warehouse on the hunt for fun fibers and squishy strings to put on sale. He IS a herding dog after all, hehe!

Last month, we told you guys to keep an eye out for his bandana, as he loves to stay on top of the latest fashion trends! Watson has been sporting some red, white, and blue stars and stripes during the month of July! He's got quite the wardrobe picked out for the coming months, and we can't wait to see what he wears next!

Don't see something on Wool Watcher that piques your interest? We have an entire sale section to peruse filled with all sorts of goodies like yarn, needles, and patterns!

Rowan's Longline Cardigan

We've been celebrating the weather recently as thunderstorms have rolled into the JBW area! While Reno was doused with a much-needed and very refreshing rain, we took a break to dance in the downpour! Mirroring this breezy feeling, Rowan arrived with the Longline Cardigan! Simple and perfect to dress up or down, this casual layering piece plays with a neutral color palette and looks great over a sleeveless tee to keep us chic and cool (in every sense of the word)! The length of this cardigan makes us feel like royalty, and we're ready to take on the day with our heads held high!